ALBUM REVIEW: Arca

Mark Corcoran-Lettice takes a look at the newest offering from Arca

By Mark Corcoran-Lettice
on Wednesday, April 5th, 2017

XL

Released: 07.04.17
www.arca1000000.com/

When we last saw Alejandro Ghersi, he had just released the violent, visceral mixtape Entrañas – a release that suggested the Venezuelan producer was set to launch further into industrial body horror. Instead, his self-titled third full-length marks a rapprochement between his alienated solo output and his collaborative work with artists like Bjork and FKA twigs.

Placing his own plaintive vocals squarely in the spotlight, the album moves between shape-shifting electronic torch song beauty (Anoche, the stunning Desafio) and post-apocalyptic instrumentals (Saunter, Castration) that retain the splintered physical heft of his previous records. It’s still not exactly easy listening, but in tearing down the masking between himself and his work, Arca has made his most compelling and distinctive solo work to date.